Denise Levertov is a poet usually associated with Black Mountain poetics. She was born near London, England but later immigrated to Seattle, Washington, in the United States. She wrote poems from 1946 to 2000, culminating in over 30 collections of poetry.
Biography
Denise Levertov was an English poet born in Ilford, Essex, England on October 24, 1923. Levertov was privately educated at home. Her mother read authors such as Willa Cather, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, and Leo Tolstoy aloud and Levertov claimed to have declared her becoming a writer at the age of five. At twelve, she sent some poetry to T.S. Eliot, who responded with advice and encouragement. Levertov had her first poem published at age seventeen. During World War II, Levertov became a civilian nurse and served during the bombings in London. In 1947, she married American writer Mitchell Goodman and immigrated to the United States in 1948. They settled in New York City, had son Nickolai in 1949, and Levertov became a US citizen in 1956.
She published more than twenty volumes of poetry, four books of prose, and translated three volumes of poetry. Levertov taught at Stanford University from 1982 to 1993 and spent the last decade of her life in Seattle, Washington. She died in December of 1997 from lymphoma complications at the age of seventy-four. In 1999, This Great Unknowing: Last Poems was published by New Directions.
Influences
Upon arrival in the United States, Levertov gained interest in Transcendentalism, particularly of Emerson and Thoreau. Later she became involved in the Black Mountain group of poets and her works were published in the 1950's in the Black Mountain Review, though she never claimed membership of any poetic school. She became important to the American avant-garde with her first American book, Here and Now (1956). From it, she became recognized throughout the 1950s and 60s by Creeley and Duncan as well as other earlier avant-garde peers such as William Carlos Williams. In1959, her book With Eyes at the Back of our Heads was published and it was with this book that her English background was forgotten as she became considered one of the greatest American poets.[1] Levertov's interest in humanitarian politics and her activism for peace and justice stemmed from her parents, both of whom were involved with political and human rights issues.[2]
Through her husband, Mitchell Goodman, Levertov was introduced to Williams, Creeley, Cid Corman, Charles Olson, and Robert Duncan. Her poem "September 1961" is a celebration in honor of Pound, Williams, and Hilda Doolittle.[3] Levertov herself has even said that there was a "significant influence of Rilke on her poetry and poetics throughout her career" [4]
She is associated with the Black Mountain school of poetry: her work feels polished, engaging and energetic. It dips into the mysterious or indecipherable occasionally but there is usually a clear meaning. Because of this, it feels "pure", as in undiluted by attempts to be anything more or to have a great message. It is about a subject, it contains beautiful images, it is what poetry should be. It feels like a return to a simpler time, to a more ready form of poetry, but changed to be unburdened by structure and rhyme.
Images are used in accordance with fair use practices.If you hold copyright to an image, and do not agree that its use accords with fair use practices,please contact the wiki's creator and organizer.
^ Hallisey, Joan F., R.W. Butterfield, Susan J. Zeuenbergen, and James F. Mersmann. "Denise Levertov's Life and Career." Welcome to English « Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois. N.p, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
^ Hallisey, Joan F., R.W. Butterfield, Susan J. Zeuenbergen, and James F. Mersmann.
^ "Denise Levertov (b. 1923)." Redirection to Equivalent @ Cengage. Ed. Joan F. Hallisey. N.p, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Biography
She published more than twenty volumes of poetry, four books of prose, and translated three volumes of poetry. Levertov taught at Stanford University from 1982 to 1993 and spent the last decade of her life in Seattle, Washington. She died in December of 1997 from lymphoma complications at the age of seventy-four. In 1999, This Great Unknowing: Last Poems was published by New Directions.
Influences
Upon arrival in the United States, Levertov gained interest in Transcendentalism, particularly of Emerson and Thoreau. Later she became involved in the Black Mountain group of poets and her works were published in the 1950's in the Black Mountain Review, though she never claimed membership of any poetic school. She became important to the American avant-garde with her first American book, Here and Now (1956). From it, she became recognized throughout the 1950s and 60s by Creeley and Duncan as well as other earlier avant-garde peers such as William Carlos Williams. In1959, her book With Eyes at the Back of our Heads was published and it was with this book that her English background was forgotten as she became considered one of the greatest American poets.[1] Levertov's interest in humanitarian politics and her activism for peace and justice stemmed from her parents, both of whom were involved with political and human rights issues.[2]Through her husband, Mitchell Goodman, Levertov was introduced to Williams, Creeley, Cid Corman, Charles Olson, and Robert Duncan. Her poem "September 1961" is a celebration in honor of Pound, Williams, and Hilda Doolittle.[3] Levertov herself has even said that there was a "significant influence of Rilke on her poetry and poetics throughout her career" [4]
Works
A Map of The Western Part of the Country of Essex In England
A Time Past
Adam's Complaint
An Embroidery
Animal Spirits
Analysis
"Initial Impressions"She is associated with the Black Mountain school of poetry: her work feels polished, engaging and energetic. It dips into the mysterious or indecipherable occasionally but there is usually a clear meaning. Because of this, it feels "pure", as in undiluted by attempts to be anything more or to have a great message. It is about a subject, it contains beautiful images, it is what poetry should be. It feels like a return to a simpler time, to a more ready form of poetry, but changed to be unburdened by structure and rhyme.
External Links
Information on biography and worksA sample of her work
A statement about television by Levertov
Quotes
Various information on Levertov
Poets.org
Biographical information provided by The Poetry Foundation
References
Images are used in accordance with fair use practices.If you hold copyright to an image, and do not agree that its use accords with fair use practices,please contact the wiki's creator and organizer.